1st Marine Regiment

Composed of: 4,300 Marines in four infantry battalions and a regimental headquarters element

Campaigns and battles:

1920s and 1930s: "Banana Wars" in the Caribbean

1942: Guadalcanal

1943: Battle for the island of Peleliu

1945: Okinawa campaign

1950: Korean War: On Sept. 15, the 1st Marine Division, including the 1st Marines, assaulted the beaches of Inchon. Later the regiment took part in the liberation of Seoul and was made famous for its involvement in the Chosin Reservoir campaign.

1965: Vietnam: The first major operation in the war for a battalion of the 1st Marines was Harvest Moon. In succeeding months, the regiment's battalions participated in operations such as Utah, Iowa, Cheyenne I and II, and Double Eagle. Operation Hastings in July 1966 had the most ferocious fighting of the war up to that time.

1973: The regiment was the last to bring the colors back from Vietnam.

May 1992: Elements of the Regimental Headquarters Company and 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines rapidly mobilized for riot-control operations as part of the Joint Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force Los Angeles. The command assumed a prominent role in quelling the rioting in South-Central Los Angeles.

2003: The regiment deployed to the Middle East for Operation Iraqi Freedom.

2004, 2006: Iraq

2010-2011. 2014: Afghanistan

CAMP PENDLETON – From the beaches of Guadalcanal and the mountains of Korea to the jungles of Vietnam and the deserts of Iraq and Afghanistan, the storied 1st Marine Regiment has fought for and protected the United States for a century.

In a ceremony Friday on the landing zone of Camp Horno, companies from the regiment's battalions stood in formation. The 1st Division band played as Col. Peter Baumgarten, the regiment's commanding officer, and past commanders and command staff rededicated battle streamers.

The ceremony celebrated one of the oldest regiments in the Corps. It recognized the effort and sacrifices made by Marines and sailors who served in past campaigns. Past and current Marines and sailors participated in the ceremony, held to engage today's Marines with those who served before them.

In all, 25 battle streamers, including the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one silver and one bronze star, the World War II Victory Streamer, the Vietnam Service Streamer with two silver and three bronze stars, and the Global War on Terrorism Service Streamer were hung on the regiment flag.

Marines serving in the regiment have been awarded dozens of Medals of Honor, dozens of Navy Crosses, hundreds of Silver Stars and countless Bronze Stars.

“Today's Marines have come in during a time of war and have been focused on mission requirements in Afghanistan,” Baumgarten said. “Because of this focus, I'm not sure today's Marines understand the important history of the 1st Marines.”

Baumgarten will deploy to Afghanistan next month with 45 Marines, one-third of whom were born after he joined the Corps in 1988.

“As we step off as the last regiment heading into what will amount to 13 years of war, I want each Marine in the regiment to know of its proud legacy and tradition, whether it started in the ‘Banana Wars’ when the regiment was just 10 years old or now when it's 100 years old. The 1st Marine Regiment was the last regiment out of Vietnam. It will also be the last regiment to leave Afghanistan,” he said.

Retired Master Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Veintimilla served in the regiment from 1972 to 2002. He attended Friday to support his “band of brothers” and honor the regiment's legacy.

“We had lots who paid the ultimate price,” he said. “Anytime there's an opportunity to recognize them, it's important. Being a Marine is something we earned, not something that was given to us.”

Ret. Col. Donald Norris, the regiment's commander in 1978-79, marveled at the new barracks, which give Marines their own rooms. In his days, Marines lived in quonset huts.

“Everything in the Marine Corps is symbolic,” the 82-year-old said. “The red stripe in the trouser, the tie clasp. … They will always come back and remember this. Life is made up of memories.”

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